Dispensing cap or closure for containers



Dec. 12, 1944. E. A. ROGERS 2 5 DISPENSING CAP 0R CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS- Filed April 12, 1940 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE DISPENSING CAP OR CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Eugene Rogers, Riverdale,'Md.

Application April 12, 1940, Serial No.-329,365

2 Claims. (01. 222-548) This invention relates to dispensing caps or closures for containers, particularly containers for powdered or pulverant material.

Various types of dispensing caps andanalogous closure members are known and have been widelyused for condiments'and like powdered or pulverant material, but as far as known they have in the main been open to certain objections, principally among which are the constant exposure of the pouring opening or well to unsanitary handling; accumulation of dust and dirt in the well I or on the surrounding surface so that-thecondiment or other material gradually becomes infiltered with foreign matter; unattractive appearance and awkward or diflicult manipulation; limitation of use to only certain types of containers, verant material, but as far as known they have The present invention, therefore, includes among its objects to provide a dispensing cap or closure member which promotes sanitation; is neat and attractive in appearance, may .be easil manipulated to different dispensing positions, is adapted for any size or style of container, and is relatively low in cost of manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Figs. 1 and 2 are top plan views of a container having a dispensing cap or closure member constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention, the cap being shown in closed position in Fig. l and in dispensing positionin Fig. 2;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views in sectional elevation of theupperportion of thecontainers of Figs. 1 and2;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 aretop plan views of a dispensing cap or closure member provided with a plurality of dispensing openings, the cap being shown in closed position in Fig. 5, in pouring position in Fig. 6 and in shaking position in Fig. '7;

Figfflis a view in side elevation of a polygonal or squared type of container illustrating how the dispensing cap may be applied to the side wall of the container.

ing, the said operating member being constructed in a manner such as to facilitate manipulation thereof by the finger of the user.

Referring to the drawing 'in detail and first the container by a suitable adhesive.

to Figs. 1 to 4inclusive, a container of the cylindrical type is generally indicated at Iil and is provided with a top wall which may be in'the form of a removable cap I I partly telescoped over the side walls of the container and which in most instances "is sealed by a wrapper secured to Mounted on the top wall or cap II is an exterior operating and closure member in the form of a dial I2 which is provided with indentations or recesses I3 and I4 functioning as finger grips to facilitate rotation of the dial. The central portion I5 of the dialoverlies the central portion of the top wall II and is pivotally and rotatably connectedto the latter by means of a member I6 which may be in the form of a rivet, stud or the like easily mounted and securedin applied position. Preferably,

but'not necessarily, the circumferential or peripheral portion of the dial is calibrated, as is also the corresponding portion of the top wall or cap I I,note Figs. 1 and 2.

Beneath the top wall or cap I I is mounted a closure member, here shown in the form of a disc I1 having an opening I8 adapted to register with a pouring opening I9 formed in the said wallII when the dial I2 i rotated to pouring position, as shown in Fig. 2. The closure member If is connected for rotation with the operating dial I2, the preferred manner in which these parts are connected being clearly shown in Figs. 1 and '2. The top wall or cap I I is formed with an arcuate slot 20, and a rivet or analogous fastening member 2| is inserted in the dial I2 and projected through said slot and connected to the closure disc II. In addition to serving as a connecting means, the member 2| serves as a limit stop'to determine the extreme point of rotation of the dial I2.

By referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the dial I2 is spaced from the top wall or cap II, so that when the dial is rotated to its open and closed positions, it does not contact said wall and wipe dust, dirt and other foreign matter around on said top and into the dispensing or pouring opening I9. Thus the closure member for the dispensing opening, or the disk I1, serves to open and close the dispensing or pouring opening, but since this disk is within the container, there can be no deposit of dust, dirt and foreign matter thereon. Furthermore, the dispensing opening is normally protected from the deposit of foreign matter therein, since when the dial is rotated to closed position, it lies above said opening and protects the latter.

The manner in which the improved dispensing cap or closure member operates will be obvious. Whenever it is desired to pour or dispense material from the container, one or more finger may be inserted in either one or both of the recesses l3 and I 4 and the dial l2 rotated toward open position, which is clockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 2 shows the dial in fully open position. However, it will be obvious that the opening l9 may be uncovered varying degrees to provide varying sizes of openings, the calibrations serving to definitely indicate the size or capacity of the pouring opening.

It will be noted that when the dial is in closed position, the opening or well 19 is fully closed as well as the surrounding area thereof, so that there is no chance of infiltration or passage of dust, dirt, grease and like unsanitary substances or material into the container. The cap is attractive in appearance and may be economically manufactured. Furthermore, it adapts itself to i any size, shape and style of container.

To insure against accumulation of the material within the container around the closure member or disc I! and impeding its free operation, a suitable seal 22 may be secured to the under side of the top wall or cap II and overlie or enclose the said disc 11. This seal may be in the form of relatively thin paper, such as tissue paper which may or may not be waxed, or any other analogous but preferably low cost material. The seal is obviously cut out or formed with an opening in registration with the pouring opening l8.

Figs. 5, '6 and '7 show the dispensing cap or 010- sure member arranged for use where a plurality of dispensing openings are desired, for example, a pouring opening and a shaking or sifting opening. In this instance the dial is substantially similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, and

the parts thereof have been given like reference characters except that the exponent prime has been added. The central portion of the dial is preferably provided with a pointer or indicator 23, and the top wall or cap I I preferably has marked thereon the different positions to which the dial may be rotated, such as shaking position, pouring position and closed position. The inner disc or closure member is formed with a pouring opening 18 and a plurality of grouped perforations 24 defining shaker openings or holes, and the top wall is formed with openings I 9 and 19" adapted to register respectively with the said opening I 3 and perforations 24.

Fig. 5 shows the dial in closed position with both the pouring and shaking openings out of registration with the pouring openings l9 and [9. Fig. 6 shows the dial rotated to pouring position, the opening I8 being in registration with the opening [9, while Fig. 7 shows the dial rotated to shaking or sifting position, the holes 24 being in registration with opening IS". The dial may or may not be calibrated in this instance, as desired. Here again the same advantages are present as in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the dial overlying the openings l9 and I9" when in closed position and not only covering the latter openings but also the surrounding or adjacent area.

The top wall ll constitutes the intermediate disc or part of the assembly, and in manufacture, the entire unit may be made as a cap and applied to a container, or the top dial and lower closure disc may be made separately and applied to the conventional cap.

Fig. 8 illustrates the improved dispensing cap applied to the flat side of a polygonal or flatsided container Ill the specific construction of the assembly being substantially similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. The dial I2 is in pouring position, uncovering pouring opening IS'.

It will be understood that the improved dispensing cap or closure member results in advantages other than those heretofore pointed out, and further, that certain limited changes and modifications in structure may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser for a container having a wall formed with a pair of dispensing openings, a fiat rotatable closure member disposed in sealing relation against the inner side of said wall and formed with a pouring opening and a concentrated group of shaker openings or perforations, said pouring opening and group of shaker openings being adapted to register respectively with the dispensing openings, an operating member in the form of a segmental dial rotatably mounted on the outer side of said Wall and secured to said closure member for rotation therewith, the dial being clear of the openings in the closure member and when in closed position overlying and protecting said dispensing openings.

2. A dispenser for a container comprising in combination with a wall of the container having a plurality of dispensing openings therein, a closure member in the form of a flat disc mounted in sealing relation against the inner side of said wall and having openings adapted to register with said dispensing openings, an operating member in the form of a flat non-circular segmental dial mounted against the outer side of said wall clear of the opening in said disc and having a central index portion, a pivot member projected through the central portion of the dial rotatably mounting the latter, means connecting the dial to said disc for rotation in unison with the latter, said Wall being formed with an arcuate-shaped slot to accommodate said connection and limit the rotation of the dial, the edges of the dial being recessed to provide finger grips to facilitate manipulation of the dial, the dial when in closed position overlying said dispensing openings and together with said wall forming a solid surface devoid of pits and openings which might trap extraneous material.

EUGENE A. ROGERS. 

